Audrey Hepburn: An Icon

Here at Luxe Models we love a good icon. That’s why Audrey Hepburn is like catnip for us. She was gorgeous, stylish, talented and a damn fine person; everything you could hope for in a hero. She was an award winning actress who overcame huge trials in her early life to become one of the most recognisable faces of the 20th century. After spending time in a WWII concentration camp, she rose to become an ambassador for starving children. Still considered to be one of the most beautiful, elegant women in the world, Audrey Hepburn’s influence still rings out to this day. So sit back and enjoy as Luxe Models explore her life and work.

She originally trained as a ballet dancer before becoming an actress and boy are we glad that she did that! She was the star of so many celebrated movies, including Roman Holiday, Sabrina, My Fair Lady and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

She received the Best Actress Oscar in 1953 for her work on Roman Holiday when she was just 24 years old. As Paramount Pictures’ hottest star, she was cast in romantic comedy Sabrina the following year. Here she played a Cinderella-style character and was once again nominated for an Academy Award. This time however, she lost out to Grace Kelly in The Country Girl. She married Mel Ferrer that same year. Sadly she suffered a miscarriage and became depressed. However, with Ferrer’s help she returned to her career and together they starred in War and Peace in 1956.

Hepburn fell pregnant again in 1959, but after a horse riding accident, she fell and broke her back. Tragically she gave birth to a stillborn a few months later. Her depression returned and deepened. Thankfully, the following year, she gave birth to a healthy son, Sean Hepburn-Ferrer.

1961 saw Hepburn filming Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which has become her most iconic role. Costumes for the movie were designed by Hubert de Givenchy and Hepburn’s image subsequently skyrocketed. She appeared in nearly every fashion magazine that year and the image of her in that long black dress, those gloves and the giant sunglasses is one that isn’t likely to go away in a hurry.

She won the part of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, and while there was some controversy over the fact that she was cast instead of Julie Andrews, who had held the part so wonderfully on Broadway, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else in the role. Julie Andrews of course went on to play Mary Poppins in the film of the same name and justice was served when she beat Hepburn to the Best Actress Oscar for the role.

Hepburn and Ferrers divorced in 1968 after 14 years of marriage. She met and married Dr Andrea Dotti within two months of their relationship breakdown. They had one son together, Luca, though the marriage ended after just nine years on account of Dotti’s habitual adultery. In 1981, she met Robert Wolders, who remained her companion throughout the rest of her life.

Sadly Audrey Hepburn died in 1992 of appendiceal cancer at her home in Switzerland. She left behind her a legacy so great that she is still lauded amongst actors and fashionistas alike.